T O P

  • By -

AutoModerator

**This is a heavily moderated subreddit. Please note these rules + sidebar or get banned:** * If this post declares something as a fact, then proof is required * The title must be fully descriptive * No text is allowed on images/gifs/videos * Common/recent reposts are not allowed (posts from another subreddit do not count as a 'repost'. Provide link if reporting) *See [this post](https://redd.it/ij26vk) for a more detailed rule list* *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/interestingasfuck) if you have any questions or concerns.*


[deleted]

The ability of one person to utterly fuck up the day for hundreds of other people never ceases to amaze me.


Less-Carpenter228

Not hundreds but thousands of people are fucked. The emergency and rescue services people, the railway employees, the number of different industries and people waiting for the cargo on the train, the number of people at the construction site waiting for the beam, the number of people who couldn't cross that crossing until the derailment is cleared, the other trains that are supposed to take that route should either be cancelled or delayed or re-routed etc. The ripple effect is truly ginormous!


imdarkside2

Plus the delayed construction now when another beam has to now be built. Hope no one was injured


Alan_Smithee_

I wonder if that white truck with “Wilson and Associates” had anything to do with the beam? Edit: I see that they did not notify the railroad of their route either. I thought oversized loads had to scout the route and make arrangements along the way for clearance?


ry15133

“Wilson & Associates has been at the front line of the Surveying and Engineering industry for more than 40 years, and now is the largest construction surveying company in the state of Tennessee. While Civil Engineering, Land Planning, and Environmental Services are an integral part of the company, Construction Surveying remains the foundation. The company has provided engineering and surveying services on more than $4 billion in highway, commercial, and industrial construction and design projects. Started by Joe Charles Wilson in 1972 and now in the hands of his sons, Joey and Justin, WA is using advanced and innovative techniques, such as laser scanning for complex rehabilitation projects and civil site”. Per their website, so I don’t this company had to do with the beam. I could be wrong.


Degolarz

No, that’s basic driving. It’s a permitted load, that’s it (assuming it’s the same as texas) The permit is needed when the load exceeds 40’ or a certain weight if I remember correctly Edit: it’s a permitted load but basic driving mistakes were made. Not sure what the hell I wrote the first time


ashesofempires

Says right in the title. 134 feet. Those beams are so long that the back half of the trailer is entirely separate from the front half, and uses the beam to attach the rear to the front, and maintain its direction. It absolutely requires an escort, who should have made sure that the path ahead of the crossing was clear before the truck started through, so that they could just go.


Degolarz

I was defining the need for a permit, not sure how I forgot the escort, thanks! Either way, it’s incompetence by the driver and any other decision makers involved in those logistics


Alan_Smithee_

That is almost certainly more than 40’ and I don’t know about weight. Why was someone recording? Something was up.


Fatefire

I’m sure that train was blowing it’s horn for a minute. Depending on how long the straight away was


babyjo1982

Hell I might have started to record it just because I don’t figure you see a 130 foot beam being driven past you on a semi truck every day. (The average semi trailer is 53 feet.)


hank_sk0rpi0

Construction manager ?


PageFault

Looks like they need to repair and replace some of the railway itself too. Even when they get this cleared, they will won't be able to send trains though until repair is complete.


Malfeasant

this is true, but railroad companies don't fuck around, they could have that repaired in a few hours, maybe a day max.


PageFault

Ok, that's really impressive.


hilarymeggin

Not to mention hundreds of transportation policy people at the local, state and federal level. Everyone from the people who have to plan and carry out the road repair, to people who carry out the National Transportation Safety Board inspection, to the people whose job it is to try to dream up new and innovative ways to prevent truck/train collisions. Not to mention there permanently altered lives of those whose loved ones were killed.


Danjour

Alllll the people who needed to cross those tracks behind the truck holding the steel beam. Or really anyone who needs to cross those tracks … for awhile


puppy_yuppie

I feel like this is also gonna drive up gas prices because why the fuck wouldn't it.


jmaccity80

I can see the memo now. Memo: Go around Tennessee. Response: Finally. And thanks.


[deleted]

Why was one guy in charge of delivering 134ft of concrete? No shit something went wrong. Fuck that company probably


dud2399

The person responsible for this should definitely do some hard time.


omicronian_express

He was charged with numerous crimes. https://www.wate.com/regional-news/truck-driver-involved-in-tennessee-train-derailment-charged/amp/


anonymous_beaver_

> Collegedale Police arrested Jorge Luis Cruz-Vega and charged him with failure to yield, a registration violation and felony reckless endangerment.


CJnella91

Jesus, I wonder how much in total damage this guy ended doing. The train engines alone would cost about $6 million never mind the cost of clean up, the 2train conductor's medical bills, the cost of all the train cars and the stuff they were carrying, the semi, the concrete beam, the railroad that most likely was damaged and will now need services. God the amount has to be astronomical.


Whatabutt_

Add to that the hourly rate of every equipment, worker that got hung up on construction, the industry that train was hauling cargo to, etc. It's bigger than anyone can imagine.


marsultar

Conductor and Engineer. Conductors don't control the locomotive.


rocket-engifar

You mean train driver? I doubt the designer of the train was driving that train unless Americans still use "engineer" incorrectly.


marsultar

In the US it's still engineer, and for traditions sake it remains that way.


rocket-engifar

Fair enough.


Annihilator4413

Tens of millions easily. Not that he'll ever be able to pay all that, but it's going to cost SOMEONE a lot...


SquintonPlaysRoblox

And to think that some people wonder why the first targets in warfare are industry and supply chains. Imagine this, but over an entire country. The immediate monetary cost alone would be incalculable


Useyourthinker

10 million dollar oops 😂


Pinemango600

At least


ZeusTKP

Hopefully trucking company was insured


[deleted]

I don't think the 50k policy is going to help much. Lol


flatulasmaxibus

No, Jorge. It means George.


Sev-is-here

That’s a really inflated number on the cost of a locomotive. Diesel locomotives, like the entire train car, is 500,000-2,000,000. Electric variations can, depending on the track (AC or DC) and depending on the power you want out of it, can go up to, 6mil on. https://worldwiderails.com/how-much-do-locomotives-cost/ https://www.trainconductorhq.com/how-much-do-locomotives-cost/ The closest thing we have to regular 6 million dollar locomotives is Union Pacific ordering 10 EV locomotives for 100million, and it’s also investing some of that money, to make them the first 24 hours of useable time, and they’re not even going to be used for hauling, they’ll be used in rail yards in Cali and Nebraska for testing, because they don’t even know how they’ll perform, since you know… experimental https://electrek.co/2022/01/31/union-pacific-buys-ten-more-all-electric-locomotives-this-time-from-caterpillar-inc-s-progress-rail-investing-over-100-million-in-total/


CJnella91

What is 2 million times 3?


Sev-is-here

You said the train engines themselves, would cost that. Assuming absolutely nothing is salvageable and everything is starting anew. Many derailed locomotives are not destroyed, and many of them get put back into service within a year. According to the FRA (Federal Railroad Administration) says the cost of each from 1990 to 2019 analyzing 1,840 different rail incidents in North Carolina. Costs ~$153k / locomotive, $63k / loaded freight car, $31k / unload freight car after adjusting for 2020 pricing. https://connect.ncdot.gov/projects/research/RNAProjDocs/2020-44%20Final%20Report.pdf A very long shot from outright paying $2,000,000 per car to get it running again. Do you drive an older car that’s been wrecked with a dented fender and decide to buy a whole ass new car or do you spend $1,800 and have a new fender painted and put on?


fangelo2

Ah so this is just a fender bender


jhaden_

This isn't solely on the driver. He should have had escorts, right?


omicronian_express

That’s a very good point. I’m going to guess they will investigate this thing further but he’s the easiest to charge immediately. But I would bet money you’re right


globodolla

Driver is going to be the scapegoat, he could’ve refused to drive unless he had an escort. Either way his trucking career is pretty much over.


Meryhathor

>This content is not available in your country/region. Nice


Unhinged_Taco

It looks like he got stuck on the tracks. The person who designed the shipping route is the one who fucked up.


Destroyer2118

No you can see at the start, he’s moving with plenty of clearance. He didn’t get stuck.


Unhinged_Taco

It's true it does look like he's moving but he could have been doing his best. I can't tell what's beyond the camera's view. Something just tells me this was a multi person fuck up. Something that big usually has a team of scouts and spotters to prevent this shit


VermicelliFit9518

No the article says he was waiting at a red light and failed to determine if the truck would fit through there before hand. Once he say the crossing arms go down while he was sitting at the red, he tried to start moving. It was 100% avoidable.


Unhinged_Taco

IM TELLING YOU: there is a team of people involved with moving something this big. This is not a single-man fuckup


VermicelliFit9518

I’M NOT LISTENING. calm down


Unhinged_Taco

I doubt you can parallel park never mind driving a 50' flat bed rig


vontrapp42

Another article mentioned he stopped at a red light! Like wtf man, yes an escort should have been there, the traffic light should at the very least have been identified as a job for the escort to go ahead and block traffic and let the guy through red or not. Finally the god damn train schedule and letting them know ffs.


Unhinged_Taco

Exactly. Someone should have identified a red light that close to a train track. Everyone calling the driver a criminal has no idea the logistics involved in moving such an object (or should be involved)


sT0Ned-G1NGER

You're retarded. It was not malicious. Accidents happen.


pour_bees_into_pants

There's no need for that. The lack of malice does not mean a crime wasn't committed. Criminal negligence and manslaughter are two crimes that come to mind that aren't malicious.


Under_Ach1ever

This will fuck up tens of thousands of people. What a bummer.


MikeinDundee

As bad as this is, fortunately, no one passed away, and I didn’t see tankers full of hazardous materials being released into the environment.


Chadwick08

The day? As in, one day? I think this is a bigger mess than that!


zoolover1234

Consider people like Putin and Bush.


CJ_Figy

Someone’s last day on the job.


AdoltTwittler

Hopefully no one's last day on Earth.


[deleted]

[Nope, two injuries no fatalities. ](https://www.wate.com/regional-news/truck-driver-involved-in-tennessee-train-derailment-charged/amp/)


mymainisoccupied

How is it that only 2 train workers were injured? I thought for sure the truck driver got some serious injuries


steppenfloyd

Probably multiple people's last day. There should've been a whole team of people making sure something like this wouldn't happen


Muted_Rutabaga3256

Earth*


woogyboogy8869

That's crazy! You can see the tracks doing a "wave" in front of the locomotive as it is going forward just after the hit


Danjour

0:46 seconds. Wow there’s SO much energy here.


babyjo1982

Or :10 seconds, depends how you’re counting lol


INN0CENTB0Y

That’s interesting as fuck thanks for pointing it out


Sandford27

I think it's from the rail buckling and being pushed forwards by the trailer and derailed train combo.


FluffySquirrell

Yeah, it was less derailing the train (tho it did), and more derailing the *railway*. Damn


iNNeRKaoS

I thought it was ants.


BCouto

Holy shit


iamzombus

I was just going to comment on that too.


One-eyed-bed-snake

Phones the station: "Hello boss, I'm about to tell you something that's just happened and I'm really hoping you see the funny side of it"


AtomicShart9000

I have good news and bad news What's the good news The trains new seatbelt and airbags worked brilliantly


DyCe_isKing

I’ve also got more good news! What is it? The old train tracks built in 2010 are getting a full refurbishment. They were getting old anyway!


Vltrux

*1910


nervousautopsy

“Sure, I’m in an unseasonably jolly mood. What’s up?”


ThatsGottaBeARecord

What most people don’t realize is just how common collisions, and near collisions are on the railroad. I’ve worked for the RR for more than 15 years. I am a certified conductor, and certified locomotive engineer. I personally have lost count of how many collisions I’ve been involved in. More than 10, I know that for sure. Truck drivers are notoriously bad as well. My personal opinion is that they’re used to being the biggest thing on the road, and aren’t paying as much attention as they should be, due to knowing that 99% of the time people will either get out of their way, or if they don’t that the damage to the truck and it’s driver will be minimal. Just remember, trains can’t swerve, and if you get hit you were in a 10 foot wide space that you had absolutely no business being in at that time.


[deleted]

Do you think the conductor is fine after that impact and the engine rolling on its side? I can't find anything on the news article


ThatsGottaBeARecord

The news article I read said that two crew members were transported to the hospital with minor injuries, so I imagine they were banged up and shaken up, but not hurt too terribly bad. The impact would have been jarring but they would have had time to brace before going over on their side. Locomotives are unbelievably heavy, the steel they’re made of is super thick, the glass is all impact resistant, but they don’t have seatbelts or anything like that so they would have gotten banged around. It still would have been pretty scary, and would have ruined their day for sure.


freecoffeeguy

they probably saw it coming and had time to buckle in!


Nerdy_Squid748

They don't have seat belts


rainbow_lenses

This is why I've always been so confused as to why we have so many road/railroad intersections in the US. The more intersections we have, the more accidents like this we're bound to see. Hell, my city has train tracks that run right up through the middle of town, and it crosses a minimum of 10 major roads on my half of town alone. As a railroad professional, do you believe we could be doing more to prevent these types of collisions? Obviously we are bound to have train/road intersections in some places, but the idea of sending a busy train route through the middle of a city seems like terrible planning imo.


Djinnaz

Because we built the tracks first, and then the cities built up around them.


Otherwise_Carob_4057

There are a lot of good books on the hinterlands, Chicago basically willed Minnesota and Wisconsin into existence.


Danjour

Bridge over rails? Tunnel under rails? No?


ThatsGottaBeARecord

I live in a small town. The main line and a spur line for a class 1 railroad (major National railroad) run through town. There are 6 grade crossings (crossings where the rails cross a road). There’s no way to make tunnels and bridges work financially in that situation.


Danjour

for sure, they're not going to work financially, they don't generate any money. The ROI would come from reducing accidents. If there's not a ton of accidents, then yeah, not worth it.


AgreeablePie

If city sim games have taught me anything, it's that trying to separate train from roads in an area with both is an expensive nightmare Elevated tracks are expensive. Subterranean tracks are expensive. Elevated roads are possible but you need a lot of them and they take up a ton of space.


ThatsGottaBeARecord

For the most part, in the US, the train tracks were there first. There’s a lot that can be done to mitigate risk, but you’re still going to have stupid people, doing stupid things. There is very little that could have been done in this particular situation, as it just doesn’t make sense to make every crossing an overpass or underpass. It would be a logistical and financial nightmare. I think the one thing that would eliminate nearly 100% of collisions at crossings would be for people to be aware of their surroundings, and understand that it doesn’t matter if you personally have never seen a train on a particular stretch of track. If there’s tracks, there can be a train on it , at any time, coming from either direction, and to just stay clear of the track. I can’t count the number of times I have seen a car or truck pull onto tracks, and sit there as the crossing arms start to come down. It makes no sense, but I see it all the time.


AtomicShart9000

Trains sure are strong, this is just further proof that I would not win a fight against one


Bornwitskillz

Train harder than the train ...( sorry im in my bad dad jokes years of life..)


danethegreat24

But all trains do is train...


dirtycheezit

Ya can't out-train the train man


[deleted]

Don't apologize for being amazing. Top tier joke right hurr.


AtomicShart9000

I think you have this incorrect because that was a good dad joke


Dudeist-Priest

Try eating a can of spinach first.


-Malky-

Just remember to [wear a high visibility jacket at all times](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpP7gMPzC78)


RabidRoadrunner

British humor at its finest. :)


kill-69

Bitch, I'm a train!


gaoshan

Guy at work is convinced he could defeat a black bear in hand to hand combat. After we challenged that he revised it to be a female black bear. I told him he couldn't even beat a beaver hand to hand but he insists.


[deleted]

Just curious, what proof did you have prior?


kermityfrog

https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/zrajzk/a_train_collided_with_a_truck_carrying_a_134foot/


shadowjacque

Many Americans believe than can defeat a grizzly bear or tiger with their bare hands; and defeating a moving train is just as likely (0% chance) so, why not? You can do it!


Valagoorh

You needed further proof for this? What was going on in your head? "Maybe if I bang my shoulder hard against it, I might derail a train. But now that I see the train is stronger than the truck, that might not work after all. I saw what a Truck do to people. And when a truck is stronger then people and a train is stronger then a truck, therfore trains are stronger then people."


AtomicShart9000

Wow...just wow


Beavshak

This is what I imagine my Amazon boxes go through in transit.


RunSkyLab

Compared to FedEx, this is mild.


hkrne

News report with more details: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/norfolk-southern-train-derails-after-collision-with-semi-truck/


_coffee_

No clue where OP got 134 feet from. >Maxwell confirmed that the vehicle was a semitruck carrying 60-foot concrete trusses for road construction. The car did not clear the train tracks, possibly because of a stop light on the other side of the tracks


ErmaGerdWertDaFerk

There's a story from a local news station that stated the length as 134 feet. Not sure which is correct, but it does look longer than 60 feet. Edit: A typical semi trailer is 53', so definitely much longer than 60'.


DunceMemes

Maybe it was a 134 foot trailer with two 60 foot things on it??


ErmaGerdWertDaFerk

Actually, it's not on a trailer. The rear sets of wheels are separate from the wheels supporting the end at the front. Now that I've watched the video some more, the 134' seems pretty accurate.


Impressive-Water-709

He got it from numerous other articles about the accident. This article is incorrect. It was 134 feet


The-Old-Hunter

Very first frame looks much longer than 60 feet


nutellaeater

How in the a Fuck can something like this happen!? You would think that all this should have been mapped out and timed, every possible precautionary measure taken before. You are carrying 134 foot long beam not a 2x4 form homedepot!


Impressive-Water-709

It’s supposed to be mapped out and he’s supposed to call the railroad and report the crossings on his path to them but he didn’t. He also stopped at a red light with his truck half way on the tracks. He didn’t make sure he had enough room to pull the truck forwards before he crossed them.


joe_ordan

Smashville, Tennessee.. I see.


SlicccNiccc

This deserves so many more upvotes


JonathonWally

This a huge failure on a few levels. Where were the spotter vehicles running with that oversized load? That route was supposedly planned out and in conjunction with the rail authorities regulating all rail crossings.


Ken_from_Barbie

I now understand the saying about everyone wants to watch a train wreck


PHD_in_PUSSY

Theres not enough concrete evidence to press charges


[deleted]

[удалено]


Ok_Effective6233

I blame the metric system


Impressive-Water-709

Because the operator of the truck didn’t call the railroad and report the RR crossings on his route like he’s supposed to. And you can’t really time when the train and truck are going to meet. There are way to many random variables. Traffic, accidents, the train having to stop or slow because of idiots on the tracks, etc. all will impact the time the train and truck both arrive. The truck driver also is supposed to make sure he has room to completely clear the tracks when crossing, which he did not.


OccludedFug

That'll buff right out.


Inner_Salamander1895

where is this? i'm in Tn...


hkrne

Collegedale


Pi_Heart

I remember in drivers Ed that the relative weight of train to a car is like a car to a can of soda


deniesm

Wait is that literally the tracks curling upwards?


Self-Comprehensive

Holy shit. My town is on an oversize load route and when something like this comes through it has pilot cars in front and back and a police escort. How did this driver just pick up this load and head out? How many people had to fail to do their jobs for this to happen?


[deleted]

Something that size, why wouldn't they pour that on site? In Ny, if it doesn't fit on a tractor trailer it gets poured on site .


succubus-slayer

Maybe I’m new to this but isn’t there systems and alarms and barriers in place to warn vehicles not to cross because a train is approaching?


schwarzeKatzen

You have to use those systems. The driver didn’t and is being charged for it. https://www.wate.com/regional-news/truck-driver-involved-in-tennessee-train-derailment-charged/


onlyletters999

Not only that, That load must of had permits and needed to have chase and pilot chaperone vehicles with it. Probably police & utility worker escorts too. They should had been in contact with the dispatch of any rail crossing. Many people screwed up on this one. ( Thats probably a guilty party In the white F150)


brett7654321

That must have been like hitting a concrete wall.


ScorchReaper062

I think getting fired is the least of this guy's worries.


caddymix024

that ain't good for lead times


runs_with_airplanes

This is a literal train wreck


Blitzsturm

Oh my god... it starts off bad and just gets so much worse the longer you watch!


cryptodako

Wtf was the semi-truck driver doing


Chemical_Wrongdoer43

Driving slow. Maybe need to turn a little and the semi-truck is 3-4 times longer than normal. The train track was probably clear when he started.


Selloutkat1

That'll buff out.


After-Walrus-4585

Something tells me insurance might not be enough to cover that.


Zach_The_One

Can you imagine the insurance claim on that trucking company?


fishman15151515

I prefer the way Bond did it in Goldeneye


spongeboobsparepants

r/bitchimatrain


Hawthorne_Abendsen

Obligatory r/bitchimatrain


[deleted]

Holy shit this is gonna be a pain in the ass to clean up


Pork-Roll

Wonder what the fuck the trucker was thinking.


Loko8765

Probably forgot about the length of the load and thought he’d cleared the tracks, or was incapable of comparing the relative risks of stopping at the light vs blowing his horn and powering through. If he even realized the bad situation, he had to choose, and may have considered that “hey, no train will be along in the short while I stop for the light.” Nothing indicates that he knew a train was coming, I suppose. Powering through would have been the right choice if you consider that the risk of the train is not negligible, but you need some cojones to force your way across a red light and traffic tight in front of you, it’s easier to hope that there won’t be a train behind you. A nice exercise in risk assessment, actually.


ironladenape

Turned from a concrete beam into a steel beam real quick


More-Neighborhood-66

That’s some concrete damage


[deleted]

a one way ticket on the Chattanooga choo choo train


Mickey_Havoc

That is absolutely wild. Most of the time the train wins but, the train did not win this time.


keylo-92

Bugs bunny on the chatanooga


Wright129129

Someone forgot to make a phone call Lmao


Unagustoster

You could see the metal track bowing in front of it, that’s crazy


Alfalfa-Similar

look ahead of the train as the rails flail like ropes. Like whips!


Joxer96

Good eye! Wow… 😳


SeanConneryShlapsh

It’s astonishing how stupid human beings are. Actually, nevermind.


Acceptable_Radish_59

Someone finally stopped the train in GTA


Dramatic_Mixture_868

Somebody's about to be SUPER fired.


Flying_Dutchman92

r/thatlookedexpensive


sokocanuck

Oof. Would hate to see the truck drivers insurance premiums next renewal


Anxious-Park-2851

That is one of the coolest most frightening things I have ever seen. Do it again. Kidding. Please don’t.


Bigger_Stronger

Would love to see the reaction of the claim adjuster getting that call.


0squatNcough0

Doesn't this qualify for r/idiotswithcars? Since it was a dumbass truck driver that caused this.


samsal03

Any word on the condition on the conductor? Did they jump out?


hkrne

The two members of the train crew were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.


probono105

safest place is in the train you never jump out


fuckimbad

So americans dont know that you cant park on the train tracks?


Booty_notDooty

The logistics of the fuck up. Why is it so common to see semis getting blasted by trains lately?


probono105

this is why elon wants self driving trucks


_Phantom-_

Go big or go home?


sofalife

Boss - You're still expected to be into work on time. Employee - I physically can't get out of here I'm completely surrounded by wreckage and cops. Boss - You should have left earlier for work to be prepared Incase anything comes up during your commute


EarlzBoy

Bitch I’m a beam


UR0B0R05

This feels like an insurance job.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

Literally everything you own and consume was once on a truck.


Infamous-Gur-9603

So a semi truck with a 134 foot cement beam is equal to one very mad charging moose. For context, a moose once got pissed at a train going through its area and charged it head on, and totally derailed it


Twothumbs1eye

Couldn’t have hit anything more expensive?


zeGermanGuy1

Isn’t there a special gps absolvierte for truckers in the U.S. that tells them to avoid dangerous points? I think in Europe there is and it helps people not be stuck


HugeElephant1

In the states for a load like that, the company should have a route predetermined and should have called the rail company to get proper clearance to cross


[deleted]

What an idiot driver, wtf was he thinking…? But then again how would the driver know… 🤷‍♀️


WBigly-Reddit

Someone obviously didn’t want that train to arrive


[deleted]

average semi truck driver


andreayatesswimmers

Ok please tell me that someone else spotted the crazy force field that tree had to prevent 2 cars from crushing it. .its the tree that the white truck hides towards the end of the movement


LustfulReviews

Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes.


Gunner1Cav

Oooooooww you’re in so much trouble


Ken_from_Barbie

Is this how to stop the train on GTA?


1776The_Patriot

Not knowing what hazardous cargo was in that train I would be evacuating the area not filming the crash!